For those lucky enough to have a spacious walk-in closet, an organizing system is a no-brainer. There's plenty of space for all manner of sweater shelves, lingerie drawers, shoe cubbies and tie racks.

So what about the rest of us, who live with reach-in (or squeeze-in) closets? No storage contraption can radically expand inside-the-closet capacity, but you don't necessarily have to install it there.

Here are two ways to create organized and tidy wardrobe cargo space for practically any closet-challenged house.

Thin and Restructure

Before you buy any closet gizmo, force yourself to weed out what you don't wear. About 70-80% of what's in most closets never gets taken off the hanger. An organizing system will make what remains easier to access.

The standard pole-and-shelf setup leaves loads of wasted vertical space. Try lowering the pole to four feet high, and above it, install either a second pole or numerous adjustable shelves designed to store piles of folded clothes.

Think outside the closet

Closets that are outrageously undersized require you to look beyond their walls for a solution. If you want something that can move with you, pick up an armoire for as little as $100 at Ikea.

Alternatively, a closet company or cabinetmaker can craft a built-in wall cabinet for your master bedroom and fill it with hanger poles, shelves, and cubbies. You'lll pay about $2000-$4000 for an eight-foot-wide wall of doors and drawers. Because it's so useful, attractive, and permanent, it may even yield some payback when it's time to sell- not bad for something that you'll reap dividends from at least two times a day.

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